Illuminated sign



June 29, 1937; y T, TAAFFE ET AL 2,085,398

I ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed May 20, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l smm AINVENTORS.' ,L THOMAS TAAF K FE. -Izi 5 MPARLEY MOFFETT. q. MMG/w ATTORNEY.

, @Ww/@Wam June 29, 1937. T. TAAFFE ET A1. 2,085,398

ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed May 20, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ':ITIL

ATTORNEY.

INVENTORS. tu'HoMAs AF #"PARLEY M E;

latented June 29, 1937 PATENT GFFICE ILLUMINATED SIGN Thomas Taaie and Parley Moffett, Los Angeles, Calif.; said Moffett assignor to said Taaffe Application May 20, 1935, Serial No. 22,370

15 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in illuminated signs; and has for its principal object the provision of a sign of simple and practicable construction which is animated in its external eiect to produce a brilliant and sparkling illumination of the display insignia affording an enlivened and attractive sign by day and by night.

A further object of our invention is to provide a sign of the class described in which the face of the translucent sign-plate on which the signcharacters are displayed is formed with a multiplicity of lenses or prisms integral with the plate whereby when the ground-portion of the plate not included in the sign-characters is masked to exclude light passing therethrough the light issuing from a, light-source within the sign-housing in passing through the clear display portion of the sign will be broken up, diiused or concentrated as the case may be, but striking the observer with a brilliancy greatly increasing the effectiveness of the sign.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an animating shield between the source of light and the sign plate usually comprising a perforated sheet which is maintained in constant movement or agitation, preferably irregular, in order that the light striking the sign-plate through the openings in said shield are continually shifting, alternately casting light and shadows on the various portions of the sign-plate and, in view of the light deecting qualities of the sign-plate, consequently affording an apparent movement and life to the sign causing it to appear to ripple and sparkle in a manner analogous in 5 eect to the play of light on ruilled or moving water.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of simple and practicable means for agitating the animating shield either through utilizing a current of heated air generated from the heat thrown off by the electric lamps or through simple electrical apparatus.

Other objects and advantages residing in our invention, and objects relating to details of construction and various arrangements of parts of the invention, will be readily apparent in the course of the detailed description to follow.

The accompanying drawings illustrate by way of example representative apparatus illustrative of our invention, in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective View of an illuminated sign embodying our invention, shown with its front portions partly broken away.

Fig. 2 is a view in transverse section of the same showing means for animating the shield consisting of an electro-magnet.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing means for animating the shield from the heated air currents.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detached view of a signplate having the sign-characters formed thereon by painting or by analogous means of applying an opaque background thereto.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detached view of a separable stencil-plate containing the sign-characters to mask the sign-plate.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary face view of a translucent sign-plate showing the surface thereof formed of lens-like protuberances.

Fig. 7 is a view in cross-section taken on line 1 1 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the lens-like portions of concave configuration.

Fig. 9 is a view in cross-section on line 9 9 of Fig. 8. 20

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the face of the plate formed in a multiplicity of prisms.

Fig. 11 is a view in cross-section on line H-I I of Fig. 10. J

Fig. l2 is a view in cross-section of a plate wherein the prismatic facets are depressed Within the face of the plate.

Fig. 13 is a partial view in horizontal section of the sign shown in Fig. 2, taken on line,I3-I3 30 thereof.

Fig. 14 is a detached view in side elevation, partly broken away, of the current interrupting elements of the invention.

Referring to said views, the reference numeral I indicates the side walls of a substantially rectangular sign-housing, 3 the rear wall which as shown may be curved to form the top wall thereof, and 4 the bottom of the housing. The front wall is formed by a glass or other suitable translucent plate 5 on which the sign-characters 6 or a design may be formed. Said plate is formed integrally on one face, preferably its outer face, with an all-over pattern of closely contiguous and relatively small lenses, either convex as seen at 'i in Figs. 6 and 7, or concave as at 8 in Figs. 8 and 9, or the face-plate may be formed in prisms 9 as seen in Figs. l() to l2. Such lenses and prisms may be molded in the glass and have the optical eiiect of breaking up the direct rays of light passing therethrough from the interior of the housing.

The sign-characters 5 lor a suitable design may be formed by painting either the outer or inner face of the plate 5 with an opaque coating to leave 55 the sign characters translucent, see Fig. 4, or a sheet metal stencil I may be employed with the sign characters II cut out in a well-known manner and laid over the outer face of the plate to mask out all but the cut-out portions from the passage of light Within the housing a plurality of electric lamps I2 are mounted and wired for current from which a strong light is directed upon the front plate 5., The interior walls of the housing are made highly reflective to ensure that a large proportion of such light is cast upon the plate.

To give a high degree of animation and livellness to the sign characters as seen by the observer a shield i3 is suspended on light coilsprings It from the top wall ofthe housing inv a plane parallel to the plate 5 and in suitable spaced relation between the lamps and the plate..

The shield is of dimensions to intercept all of the light directly emanating from the lamps that is cast upon the sign characters and is highly perforated, the perforations I5 being substantially of the size or area'of the lenses or prisms with which they are used and advisedly constitute considerably more than one-half the area of the shield. i

Means to-actuate the shield in an erratic but continual motion are provided consisting in the one instance of a vane-extension I6, see Fig. 3, secured at one end to the upper edge of the shield and extending into a current of heated air entering through Ventilating apertures I1 formed in the bottom of the rear wall 3 and exhausting l through a short stack I8, as seen by the darts in Fig. 3. The air is warmed by passing in close proximity to the lamps I2 and gains suiiicient acceleration to cause a. relatively strong current when in contact with the vane I6. The suspension springs I4 and the shield I3 are both relatively light and the air impinging upon the vane will cause the shield to swing freely and move in all directions with an erratic m'otion to cast the light passing through the perforations therein upon the sign-plate in constant movement as well as the shadows created by the solid portions of the shield so that the effect upon the observer in front of the sign will be a continual change and sparkle given to the illuminated sign characters enlivening the sign and enormously increasing its attractiveness and brilliance. The erratic and unperiodic movements of the shield with its continually changing and transitory casting of light and shadow upon the plate lends itself perfectly to obtaining the effects desired in simulating the play and ripple of light on water which is as'close an approximation to the description .of the appearance of the sign when in operation as may be made. l

Another method of obtaining such erratic movement of the shield comprises the employment of a ferrous shield mounted in the same manner as, just described with one edge in proximity to an electro-magnet I9 positioned in the housing. Said magnet is electrically connected with circuit wires, and 2|, in which a asherbutton, 23, of well-known characteristics is interposed so that the magnet is intermittently energized to attract and pull the shield to one side which upon its release by the breaking of the circuit will swing in the opposite direction and continue its swinging and jiggling motion until again momentarily pulled by the magnet to accelerate its motion once again. Or, an iron polepiece 22 may be secured to the shield I3 which is intermittently attracted by the energized magnet I9 to swing the shield in constant, erratic motion.

Another effective means for actuating the shield may consist in an electric fan of the rotary-oscillating type, not shown, which may be mounted within the housing and set to direct its air currents in each oscillation upon the shield or projecting vanes thereof, so that the shield will be under continual irregular motion, being given additional impetus at each vibration of the fan.

The sparkle and brilliance of the sign has been referred to and another peculiarity inherent in the sign is the clearness and distinct depiction of the sign characters as seen lat acute angles therefrom and in the extreme distances from which.

it may be viewed with perfect clarity. Also, to the intense and concentrated light emitted by the sign due to the optical eiect of the lenses or prisms is attributed its proven value as a daylight sign as even the brightest sunlight will only partially dim its power while the continuaiplay of light and shade thereover still gives it life and attractiveness.

Color in all of its manifold applications may be utilized, either in the pigmenting of the plate 5 itself, the use of colored lacquers on the signcharacters, or by the use of color shields, not shown, applied directly to the plate 5 on its rear face or otherwise.

Somewhat similar results with respect to the play of light and shade upon the sign may be effected by the use of a stationary shield and a movable plate in which case the plate may be suspended or otherwise arranged for independent movement and an electro-magnet may be utilized to intermittently attract a ferrous-metal body fixed to the plate whereby the plate may be energized.

Having described our invention, what we claim,

' forated shield resiliently suspended in said housing and interposed between said light-source and said plate,y means to generate a current of air within said housing, and a vane extending from said shield into said air-current to actuate'said shield with irregular motion.

2.- An illuminated sign, consisting in la housing, a source of light within said housing, a glass plate forming one wall of said housing, said platehaving an all-over pattern of closely contiguous lens-units formed integrally on one face thereof, an opaque covering for said plate to mask such portions of the plate not comprised within the areas loi? sign-characters formed thereon, a perforated shield resiliently suspended in said housing and interposed between said light-source and said plate, and intermittent electro-magnetic means to actuate said shield with irregular motion.

3. An illuminated sign, consisting in'- a housing, a source of light in said housing, a translucent plate forming a wail of said housing, said plate having a face formed of integral light-refractors, a perforated shield interposed between said lightsource and said plate, and electro-magnetic means intermittently energized to actuate said shield with irregular motion.

4. An illuminated sign, consisting in a housing, a source of light in said housing, a translucent plate forming a wall of said housing, said plate having a face formed with closely contiguous integral light-refractors, a perforated shield suspended between said light-source and said plate, means to generate a current of air within said housing, and a vane upon said shield impinged upon by said current of air to impart irregular motion to the shield.

5. An illuminated sign, consisting in a housing, a source of light within said housing, a translucent plate forming a wall of said housing, said plate being formed on one face with an all-over pattern of light-refractors, a portion of said plate being formed into a sign-design by rendering the back-ground of the sign-design opaque, a perforatedshield suspended between said light source and said plate, and intermittent electro-magnetic means to actuate said shield with irregular motion.

6. Anilluminated sign, consisting in a housing, a source of light within said housing, a translucent plate forming a wall of said housing, said plate being formed with an all-over pattern of light-refractor units on one of its faces, a stencilmask overlying said plate containing the cut-out design of the sign, a perforated shield resiliently suspended and interposed between said light source and said plate, electro-magnetic means to actuate said shield, and means to make the motion of the shield irregular.

'7. In an illuminated sign, in combination with a housing, a light-source within said housing, and a translucent sign-plate forming one wall of said housing, of a perforated shield, means to suspend said shield in parallel with said plate and between the plate and said light-source, electromagnetic means to actuate said shield, and means to make the motion of the shield irregular.

8. In an illuminated sign, in combination with a housing, a light-source within said housing, and a translucent sign-plate forming one wall of said housing, of a perforated shield, resilient means to suspend said shield in interposed relation between said light-source and said plate, and means to generate a current of air in said housing impinging upon said shield to maintain said shield in continual motion.

9. An illuminated sign, consisting of a housing, a source of light in said housing, a plate having translucent sign-characters formed thereon formed of integral light-refracting units in close contiguous relation, a perforated shield resiliently suspended and interposed between said lightsource and said sign-characters, electro-magnetic means to actuate said shield, and means to make said motion irregular.

10. In an illuminated sign, in combination with a housing, a source of light within said housing, and a translucent sign-plate forming a wall of said housing, of a perforated shield suspended between said plate and said light-source, electromagnetic means to maintain said shield in motion. and means to make said motion irregular.

11. An illuminated sign, consisting of a housing, a source of light within said housing, a translucent sign-plate forming a wall of said housing, a perforated shield suspended for free vibratory movement between said plate and said lightsource, and means including an electro-magnet and an interrupting device therefor to maintain said shield in motion.

12. An illuminated sign, consisting of a housing, a source of light within said housing, a translucent sign-plate forming a wall of said housing, a perforated shield suspended for free vibratory movement between said plate and said lightsource, an electro-magnet in operative relation to a ferrous portion of said shield to attract the shield from its normal dependent position, and means to intermittently energize said magnet.

13. An illuminated sign, consisting of a housing, a source of light within said housing, a translucent sign-plate forming a Wall of said housing, the sign-characters of said plate being formed of light-refracting elements, a perforated shield suspended between said light-source and said plate, electro-magnetic means to maintain said shield in motion, and means to make said motion irregular.

14. An illuminated sign, consisting of a housing, a source of light within said housing, a translucent sign-plate forming a wall of said housing, the sign-characters thereof being formed of integral light-refracting elements, a perforated shield suspended between said light-source and said plate for free swinging movements, and means to actuate said shield in continual swinging motion comprising an electro-magnet to provide a magnetic eld within which said shield moves, and

an interrupting device in the electric circuit including said magnet to intermittently deenergize said magnet to admit of free swinging movements of the shield.

15. An illuminated sign, consisting in a housing, a source of light within said housing, a translucent sign-plate forming a wall of said housing and having one side formed with light-refracting elements, a perforated shield interposed between said source of light and said sign-plate, a pair of spring suspension members to support said shield for free lateral swinging movements, means to actuate said shield in lateral motion, and means to make said motion irregular.

THOMAS TAAFFE. PARLEY MOFFETT. 

